The View from Mountain Hawk Park

Keep driving east of Olympic Parkway from I-805, past the US Olympic Training Center, and you'll find Mt. Hawk. Park. Walk to the gazebo across the park, stand quietly and be in awe. Before you is a grand view of Otay Lakes and the Otay Mountains afar. Some days, including Saturdays, you'll see the US Olympic Rowing team practice, their oars in cadence with the flight of birds and rustling of the trees. Some days, I marvel at the patience of lone fishermen bobbing in floating tubes or quietly steering a basic boat. From up in Mt. Hawk Park, I see the lake glisten with hundreds of fish, and equal numbers of birds trying to catch them along with the humans. There were days when I've witnessed the grand spectacle of hawks finding their homes, taken over unfortunately by Eastlake Vista's planned development, yet perching on top of one of the many trees still left untouched by the builders. One night, stopping by for fresh air, I saw a pair of white owls chasing each other in flight. Big outstretched white wings beautifully hovering overhead against the moonlight.

Mt. Hawk is my park. On any given Saturday morning, you'll see me there, myself perched on the bench in the gazebo, gazing at a distance. I have seen this place changed so much, yet remain the same. The lake where I prayed to God for my first home twelve years ago, is still here. My neighborhood, Eastlake, has changed so much, yet it is still the same place where I'd like to be home.

Whenever I can, I will share to you what I see in my view from Mountain Hawk Park. ~ CF